Vindicatrix Boy

The ANZAC Light on the Water event is gaining international recognition with major stories on the UK Merchant Navy site and the Vindicatrix Association HQ site.

A framed print of the John Ford painting of the Centaur will be carried on the search vessel when it begins the search for the World War II hospital ship off the Queensland coast.

The following email messages were received by the organisers of the ANZAC Light on the Water 2009 Centaur Commemoration from David Mearns, of Blue Water Recoveries, who will lead the Search For Centaur team.

Thank you for letting me know about your planned tribute to those lost on Centaur. 

It is a wonderful thing you are doing to ensure that the young children of Australia are aware of this important part of their country’s history.

David

Thank you, the painting is beautiful.  

I would be proud to take it with us.  
    
Did an interview with ABC radio today and mentioned the ANZAC Light on the Water event and how this is being used to teach school children about Australia’s war time history.

David

Photo courtesy of the ABC

David Mearns, who led the search for HMAS Sydney

Prime Minister Kevin Rudd and Queensland Premier Anna Bligh today announced that respected international dive company Blue Water Recoveries will manage the search for the torpedoed World War II Australian hospital ship Centaur.

The six-member inter-governmental steering committee chose Blue Water Recoveries because of its record in deep-sea research, location and filming of shipwrecks.

Last year the firm found HMAS Sydney, which was commemorated at ANZAC Light on the Water 2008.

The AHS Centaur, brightly lit and clearly marked as a hospital ship, was torpedoed by a Japanese submarine south east of Cape Moreton in May 1943; she caught fire and sank within minutes. Of the 322 persons on board, only 64 survived.

Centaur is thought to lie two to three kilometres underwater

Mr Rudd said finding the Centaur would complete the story of one of Australia’s and Queensland’s greatest maritime disasters.

“If the search is successful, suitable memorial activities will be undertaken to acknowledge AHS Centaur’s resting place and it will be duly declared as an historic shipwreck under the Historic Shipwrecks Act 1976 in recognition of its social and historical significance to all Australians,” Mr Rudd said.

Ms Bligh thanked the Prime Minister for responding to her request to undertake the search.

“This is an important part of the State’s history and for the sake of those who died, their families and loved ones it is right that we try to find its resting place,” she said.

“The project manager’s first responsibility will be to develop a detailed project plan which will outline the likely search area, the timeline for the search, and the estimated costs of the project.”

Once the search area has been defined, a tender will be offered to find an appropriately equipped vessel and the search could begin as early as November this year.

A reference working group, made up of the steering committee’s chair and representatives of the Department of Defence, Blue Water Recoveries, Centaur Association representatives, the RSL and historian Captain Foley will convene later this month.

Blue Water’s other successful searches include HMS Hood, the flagship of the Royal Navy which was sunk in 1941 by the German battleship Bismarck; the Lucona, a cargo ship sunk by a time bomb as part of an Austrian insurance fraud scheme; and the Rio Grande, a German blockade runner sunk in World War II and found at a depth of 5,762 metres.

The Federal Government is matching Queensland’s $2 million commitment for the search.

Visit Blue Water Recoveries’ website.

This painting of the Australian hospital ship Centaur for the 2009 ANZAC Light on the Water commemoration by renowned Birkenhead maritime artist, John Ford (F.A.S.M.A.) is shown here for the first time.

To raise funds for the spectacular Port River ANZAC commemoration on April 24, this brilliant painting is the prize in a raffle to be conducted among the 400 people at the 1940s Dance Party fundraiser at the Maritime Workers Hall on Saturday April 4.

Locals will sport 1940s fashions and hairstyles as they dance to the Bay Big Band with singers Marlene Richards, Terry Brooker, Wally Carr, Jenny Loftes and the Not The Andrews Sisters.

A few tickets are still left for this memorable event at $25 per head (concession $20) from the Port Mall Newsagency in Port Adelaide, by phone on (08) 8447 2961 or by email

The historic Waterside Workers Hall is at 11 Nile Street, Port Adelaide.

Semaphore Port Adelaide RSL is staging a 1940s Dance Party at the Waterside Workers Hall in Nile Street Port Adelaide on Saturday April 4 and it promises to be be a memorable night.

It’s not just a touch of nostalgia for the older generation — it’s the latest dance rage around Adelaide. 1940s dancing and hairstyles are back in fashion.
 
Entertainment will include the Bay Big Band and singers Marlene Richards, Terry Brooker, Wally Carr, Jenny Loftes and the Not The Andrews Sisters.. 
 
Young and old will be wearing 1940s fashions and and some locals will be donning their old World War II uniforms.
 
The 1940s Dance Party, which will run from 8 pm till 11 pm,  is a fundraiser for ANZAC Light on the Water 2009. Bring a 1940s Supper Plate; a bar will be open with beer, wine and soft drinks.

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